Brinkler classification
Encyclopedia
Brinkler Classification is the library classification
system of Bartol Brinkler
described in his article "The Geographical Approach to Materials in the Library of Congress Subject Headings". The geographical aspect of a subject may be conveyed through three types of headings labeled A, B, and C. Heading A uses a primary topical description with geographical subdivisions (e.g. Art--Paris). Type B uses a place-name for the main heading with a topical subdivision (e.g. Paris--Description). While with C headings use a geographical description of a phrase (e.g. Paris Literature).
Brinkler explores what type of heading is more useful to a patron
, and he finds that it depends on the level of familiarity a patron has with a topic and what approach they take when searching for resources on their topic. Ideally readers will either be looking for everything on a particular topic, or everything regarding a particular place. Bartol Brinkler investigates a system of classification that will best serve these two ideal types of patrons. He finds working with Type A headings will best assist a patron who is more topic oriented, while using Type B headings is preferable for those who are primarily interested in one place.
However this is problematic in practice. One possibility is to assign Type A and Type B headings to every resource, but the cataloguing cost would be high. A system that aids readers regardless of their approach to a topic involves using cross-references (e.g. Canada--Botany, See Botany--Canada). Admitting that see and see also references would require more work on the part of librarians, Bartol Brinkler notes that librarians must keep in mind "...readers do not have the same knowledge [of classification] and do need all the help they can get..."
Library classification
A library classification is a system of coding and organizing documents or library materials according to their subject and allocating a call number to that information resource...
system of Bartol Brinkler
Bartol Brinkler
Bartol Brinkler was a cataloging librarian, the head of cataloging and classification at Harvard University's Widener Library. He was educated at Princeton Graduate School and received a MA and a Ph.D. He graduated in 1937. From 1947-1982, Bartol Brinkler worked at Widener Library as head of...
described in his article "The Geographical Approach to Materials in the Library of Congress Subject Headings". The geographical aspect of a subject may be conveyed through three types of headings labeled A, B, and C. Heading A uses a primary topical description with geographical subdivisions (e.g. Art--Paris). Type B uses a place-name for the main heading with a topical subdivision (e.g. Paris--Description). While with C headings use a geographical description of a phrase (e.g. Paris Literature).
Brinkler explores what type of heading is more useful to a patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
, and he finds that it depends on the level of familiarity a patron has with a topic and what approach they take when searching for resources on their topic. Ideally readers will either be looking for everything on a particular topic, or everything regarding a particular place. Bartol Brinkler investigates a system of classification that will best serve these two ideal types of patrons. He finds working with Type A headings will best assist a patron who is more topic oriented, while using Type B headings is preferable for those who are primarily interested in one place.
However this is problematic in practice. One possibility is to assign Type A and Type B headings to every resource, but the cataloguing cost would be high. A system that aids readers regardless of their approach to a topic involves using cross-references (e.g. Canada--Botany, See Botany--Canada). Admitting that see and see also references would require more work on the part of librarians, Bartol Brinkler notes that librarians must keep in mind "...readers do not have the same knowledge [of classification] and do need all the help they can get..."